Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights boldly declares that everyone is entitled to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely and regularly chosen representatives. It further insists on democratic participation by stating that the will of the people must be the basis of the authority of government; and, for this reason, everyone has a right to participate in public life according to the law.
In Pakistan, the right to participate in government has been achieved through various democratic elections held since time immemorial. For example, the general elections of July 2018 enabled Pakistani citizens to vote and select their preferred representatives for both the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. These elections were of paramount significance to determine the political scenery of the country as they brought citizens face-to-face with their leaders, providing an exceptionally candid platform to express their preferences and demands. Defying all odds of political unrest and allegations regarding manipulation in elections, this clearly proved Pakistan needed democratic governance despite these challenges and highly valued people’s participation in creating their government.
Written by: Nabeela Mohiud-din